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Akaash Vani

If Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge was all about respecting one's parents wishes, Akaash Vani is a mini-attempt and a serious one at respecting a child's wishes. Yes, I just compared this effort to what is considered an epic of our times. Because it is a valiant effort. If only, it had avoided the trappings of a few clichés.

Akaash Vani - Preview

"From the makers of Pyaar Ka Punchnama" is Aakash Vaani's claim to fame. While I enjoyed Pyaar Ka Punchnama's youthful rant about the unreasonable attitude of today's girlfriends, it resonated really deep down with the youth of the country.

At the time of writing this article (December last week), there wasn't any material available on the film, except for this description on a facebook page which might not be the film's official facebook page and only this one trailer.

And it couldn't be any more confusing - a write-up that claims to be as intense at Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and has jokes that run in a vein similar to that of Pyaar Ka Punchnama. Then again, maybe that's what is intense about today's Raj and Rashmi. I certainly hope they aren't going to repeat the love sagas from the 80s and 90s.

We are given a start with a couple of standout songs as Milliblog's music review suggests. Let's hope the film builds on from there and engages a broader audience.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Akaash Vani starts of as a regular love story and takes its time in establishing itself with sweet nothings. Then it creates such a tricky situation for the protagonist Vani (Nushrat Bharucha) that I daresay, many a Indian young girls find themselves in when it comes to choosing a partner for herself. Again, there is nothing novel at all about the situation, we have seen the dilemma over and over again, in the life of Indian cinema. But, the manner in which Akaash Vani tackles the situation is quite close to reality. If only, that reality was adhered to for a little longer.

If you are expecting a Pyar Ka Punchnama repeat from Akaash Vani, you will be disappointing yourself. Akaash Vaani means serious business and has taken on a very everyday but loaded issue between parents and their young children.

The generation gap played out beautifully. Our parents struggled a lot - in their careers, with their finances, in their relationships. But today's generation has moved up the Maslow's hierarchy of needs. What went by as 'normal' with our mothers, is an absolute no-no for us. I am so glad, writer-director Luv Ranjan picked the smaller issues which underline bigger issues, like the man asking for a glass of water from his woman, instead of the very obvious no-nos.

Yet, the writing cops out at some instances. It does get a tad preachy and my 'other man' complaint a la Jab We Met stays. Why can't he be a decent, competent, likeable guy? Is it because it is just easier for love to try and win when he's a louse? The other big one which almost slides by is how Vani suddenly takes on her situation head-on.

You almost let this one go by because you are rooting so strongly for her. And for this credit goes to Nushrat Bharucha. Her face withers and body droops with her situation from a sparkling, confident kid. Kartikeya Tiwari on the other hand is still ticking because of his puppy face. Whether or not he can act will be told only when he takes on something different from a lover boy. The other actor who gets us involved is Sunny Singh Nijjar as the relentless male chauvinist.

A lot about Akaash Vani is courageous. To take up the topic of a love story which faces opposition in this day and age, when such stories are done to death, is brave. To take it on with such a slow pace when Indian films are getting shorter and shorter is an interesting decision, even if I might have been okay with a film that was thirty minutes shorter. To go the serious route after the laughter riot Pyar Ka Punchnama was made out to be is another bold move. And the most beautiful of them all, the one that made the movie for me was that characters didn't do 180 degree turn-arounds in their thoughts and attitudes. For the rest of the mile, there is always a next time.

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up,
by Taran Adarsh,
Bollywood Hungama
:
...The movie contains just the right blend of sparkle and spice and is definitely worthy of a watch. Go for it!...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Rony D'Costa,
Desi Martini
:
...What worked against the film is that after a point the film is focused only on Vani’s life post marriage. For a love story about a couple the man’s track is left out abruptly only to conveniently return when required....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Subhash K Jha (IANS),
FirstPost
:
...Unlike other contemporary celluloid raconteurs, Ranjan is not fearful of silences. He doesn’t fill up every conceivable nook and corner of the storytelling with words and music...
full review

Thumbs up,
Free Press Journal
:
...As far as the story goes, this is ‘Jab Tak hain Jaan’ minus the silly sentiment – but instead corroded by a traditional mind-set. The romance is stunning....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Martin D'Souza,
Glamsham.com
:
...Nushrat Bharucha too, complements Kartik 'scene for scene'. She portrays the various emotions from a girl in love, to one wanting to please her parents to the 'T'. ...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Fatema H Kagalwala,
India Entertainment
:
...the film treats its main protagonists with heart and sympathy. They are real people with real boundaries and real doubts....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Aakash Barvalia,
MoviezADDA
:
...If you would watch it with close eyes also, you would feel and hear the heartbeats of the film, as somewhere somehow it touches your heart. Don't just watch it, Feel the movie!...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Sonia Chopra,
Star Blockbuster
:
...Those expecting a frothy film like Pyar Ka Punchnaama will be disappointed, as this is more real and has more depth....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Renuka Vyavahare,
Times of India
:
...Sunny Singh Nijjar, who is seen in a supporting but crucial role as the chauvinistic husband Ravi, fits the bill....
full review

So-So,
by Samreen Tungekar,
Bolly Spice
:
...Kartik has done a brilliant job as Akaash, going from the completely crazy boy in the beginning of the film to the much sober and responsible man, who will not let go off the love of his life...
full review

So-So,
by Kritika Deval,
fullhyd.com
:
...It feels fresh. The dialogue is engaging, if you don't mind the slightly OTT feel of the '90s-style shayari-type lines. The camera is generous to everything it sets its lens on, whether it be Dehradun, Delhi, or London...
full review

So-So,
by Swati Deogire,
In.com
:
...the film has its share of unnecessary songs and its length bogs it down. ...
full review

So-So,
by Vinayak Chakrovarty,
india today
:
...Akaash Vani is not so much about romance as it is about understanding what drives decisions that people make....
full review

So-So,
by Joginder Tuteja,
Indicine
:
...This is where the film takes a dip since there is no respite whatsoever and though as audience you expect smiles to ruturn on screen, none of that really happens....
full review

So-So,
by Roshni Devi,
koimoi
:
...A rather clichéd and already seen story which drags long enough to test your patience....
full review

So-So,
by Shakti Shetty,
MiD DAY
:
...Kartik is smooth but appears stuck in his hero-mode while Nushrat is naturally adorable and steals the show as a repressed wife....
full review

So-So,
Movie Talkies
:
...If you like your love stories too sugary and mushy, do go for it...Otherwise, you are well advised to reach for the Pyaar Ka Punchnaama DVD for some laughs....
full review

So-So,
by Mansha Rastogi,
Now Running.com
:
...In his first film itself, Sunny gives a crackling performance as a subdued yet menacing husband. ...
full review

So-So,
by Ananya Bhattacharya,
Zee News
:
...A complete about-turn from the character that she plays in ‘Pyar Ka Punchnama’, with her honest, stunning performance, Nushrat yet again proves that she is here to make it big....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Nikhil Arora,
Desi Martini
:
...This was just the pre-intermission segment. My crestfallen face had disgust and revulsion to confront in the future....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Divya Solgama,
Gomolo.in
:
...Music by Hitesh Sonik is surprisingly good. There has been hardly any music promotion and despite of that he manages to impress you with few superb scores like ‘Crazy Lover’, ‘Tera Mera Naam’, ‘Pad Gaye Ji’ & ‘Bas Main Aur Tu’. ...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Rajeev Masand,
IBN Live
:
...Kartik Tiwari and Nushrat Bharucha exude confidence and share a warm chemistry, but can't inject much life into this comatose script. ...
full review